Sounds like Galileo all over again.

What I mean is that we have a stunning failure of most humans to understand science and the limitations/potentials of it. Most people are stunned when they think about the fact that half of all people are below average...well, not really because we have to bring in median and mean scores...oh well.

Anyway, very sad situation and I'd definitely avoid the Italian legal system. I wonder if they will get ANY Earth Scientists to work there!